Christ’s Finished Work (Part A)

I will read that verse every chance I get is one of the most magnificent verses in all the Bible because the truth behind it is a bloodstained verse for me and you. John 14 two Jesus said in my father's house there are many places then he goes on.

If it were not so, I would not of told you I go to prepare a place for you. That places cleansed for sins by his blood, because the sinners are cleansed by his blood. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Hebrews. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now, here's Pastor Rick in Hebrews chapter 9 with a brand-new message called Christ's finished work beginning at verse 23 therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these things, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. Christ is not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Not that he should offer himself often as a high priest enters the most holy place every year with blood of another. He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world.

But now once at the end of the ages he has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it has, as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. Those who eagerly wait for him he will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. I hope you are enjoying this study through the Hebrews. We have some quite potent points to make out of this last paragraph of this ninth chapter and for those of you not aware of what's going on with the Hebrew letter. There were Jews that had come to Christ and now they were thinking about going back to Judaism or mixing and mingling in the two and the writer is addressing this and he is warning them and he is just getting warmed up. When he do when we get the chapter 10 he is going to intensify his warnings with the great truths of the gospel, and it is beneficial for all of us, for anyone who has a thought once they come to Christ of mixing him with something else with some sort of weird meditation or spiritualism or anything else. You be running the risk of venturing waters of anathema and you are sternly warned not to do it. If you're thinking about going back to the world because your faith is faltering, you need to know you're on the hook of Satan. You are his catch of the day, and he will take you out play you and consume you, unless you button up your act remain true to Christ in faith sick I'm too weak. God is not. He loves you and he doesn't want to see you play the fool for Satan's or run to him and stay there and will make some of these points. Hopefully God can have his way with me this morning as we consider our text in a first.

We have to get the academic side in place. The remaining verses show how our inheritance in Christ what he has done for us what we will receive from him because of his death, and then upon our death how they are upheld by him now a human being make makes a last will and testimony, and there are times when clever lawyers and deceitful people and scoundrels get together and disregard the will of the deceased will that will be the case with Christ. No one's going to come along and metal with what he has done his will will be done and to enforce that point with his readers. The writer is saying. He stands at the throne of God and sits on the throne of God for he is God the son, and he will enforce it and this should encourage you to be strong at whatever comes your way and so let's look at verse 23. Because these things are real not just Bible preaching and words from clever man who don't know what their target. The spirit of God moving in the lives of human beings who are willing to receive him and every word of God is rich and powerful. Even in those times we can't find it. Even when we are tempted to doubt let's get to it. Verse 23 therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. Well again he is referring to the temple of his first return to the Temple of Moses as verse 19.

For example, of this chapter and and and and throughout the ninth chapter in other places, the earthly temple was a symbol of spiritual truths behind those symbols and practices stood fact, a point that God wanted to make for sinners. Symbols are weaker than the realities behind them there supposed to be. So if you went to the Old Testament temple, and you saw the bull being offered was a symbol of the Messiah to come of what sin is done in humanity and creation that there is blood on the hands of sinners, but there is a greater offering then that bowl of that sheep. There is Messiah, God the son. So again the symbols are weaker than reality realities behind them was religions that religion in her rituals speak of the reality of God, and that's what the Bible is when you are memorizing Scripture verses you are in touch with the reality that is eternal in the heavens and is not a waste of time and all of your prayers, especially the unanswered ones are remembered by God forever and you will find out when you leave this life just how much your prayers mattered to God and because they were answered and not is not the point. The point is that you have a relationship with a God who listens and who waits, takes you home that is the point. That's what we mean by eternal matters in the spiritual things we go beyond this life. So he says the these things should be purified. In verse 23 should be purified with these things because sin is not something to ignore. Ever. That's why the symbol of their God is saying I'm not ignoring this building to appoint to the Scriptures building 2.2 continues in verse 23, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. This is not imply that there is something in heaven that is unholy and needs to be purified, not directly but indirectly, it does because cleansing the end this sense in anticipation of sinners arriving.

That's the point. That's the message.

Those who come to heaven from Earth are sinners.

They been clans. You cannot come to God in heaven, just as you are. You have to be cleansed, you can come to confession admission that is of your sin, you can admit I am a sinner and I need you, Lord Jesus to come just as you are but you don't stay that way. Whether you feel it or not, you have to be washed in the blood of the lamb you have to be bought. You have to be born again touch from God himself.

In that sense, this is a work that only he can do so. God, he does not ignore sin, is made a way to defeat it is made a way to overcome and defeat its power to damn souls, eternal separation from him, Christ died for us in his death, purifies us in the temple on earth.

It demanded purification and in that sense, the place of God in heaven demands purification to so you could say that the blood of Jesus Christ decontaminate suss because sin has contaminated humanity all of a sudden effective in that sense it's only point he makes that clear to them.

They understand this. They know about the temple. They do not need a cultural class. They were right there with him.

Verse 24 for Christ is not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God or us for us to put for me. You did not enter behind the temple veil that was on earth. Solomon's Temple and then at well that any of the Moses Solomons of the one that Gerard had expanded Christ did not serve as a priest there in the tribe of Judah, we discover that already. In this Hebrew letter is is was a copies of the true again. All the blood spilled the years many gallons and gallons of blood spilled from the offerings at the temple.

They were Old Testament sketches a faint illustration of the shed blood of Christ Jesus sinners. They were sermons, they were living and dying sermons before his resurrection. No sinner after death could enter heaven all resided in the abode of the dead were two places, one for the wicked witch there still is, and there was a compartment for the righteous which there are no longer is because those that were righteous and died are now taken to heaven in Christ after his resurrection after his crucifixion. He said to the thief, today you will be with me a minute.

Ephesians 4 tells us about this little bit is is, therefore, he says. Ephesians 4 a when he does set ascended on high, he led captivity free, free. Those that were separated from God.

Though they were righteous and the abode of the dead, they were not in heaven but they are now sin first occurred in heaven, not on earth first sin that we know about is not committed by a human being is not Adam and Eve. It was Satan as Lucifer was an archangel. It was one entrusted in the presence the throne room of God. Lucifer, the son of the morning star. We now known as the devil slanderer the liar about God and man we know him as the enemy Satan himself. The great Dragon of old and yet in heaven we need Christ to protect by getting us there cleansed from sin no more sin in heaven. Revelation 21, four, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

The ones that a blood bought this should be no more death or sorrow, no crying, there shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away. I will read that verse from the pulpit every chance I get I will not fake it and force it into my text, but when it comes up in my prep time. I will read that verse every chance I get. It is one of the most magnificent verses in all the Bible because the truth behind it is a bloodstained verse for me and you. John 14 two Jesus said in my father's house there are many places and then he goes on. If it were not so, I would not of told you I go to prepare a place for you. That places cleansed for sinners by his blood, because the sinners are cleansed by his blood. So what the writer is doing here in Hebrews disease contrasting the value of the earthly religion with the glorious work of Christ. Yes, we had of these sketches that illustrated these truth but now we have the truth. Don't go back to the sketch stay with the person of Christ by faith is one of their own prophets. Habakkuk said the just shall live by faith. Faith is a working relationship birth based on fact that you cannot dismiss that has convinced you that has been so real to you that you know it's true and it's what matters. That is what belongs to faith in anyone who says that they are too sinful to be accepted by God is saying half of a truth.

There were no cross of Christ.

If there were no resurrection. It would be the whole truth, but it is not, therefore, anyone who dies without receiving the forgiveness of Christ, nonetheless, is doomed yes were not good enough for God, but he has accepted us washed is in the blood of the will of the Lamb and made us acceptable to Christ.

That is our message and it is not an easy message to preach so often to lost souls, because of the jungle that is surrounding them. Of lies and things they've made up in their heads that they hold dearly to they have built walls and behind the walls. They built fortifications, and Satan has been supplying them with his many resources as he can and it is up to us to storm the walls to break through the gates with truth and love and patience and prayer, and endurance all the time strengthening our own faith forging our own faith in the spirit of Christ by participating in the faith cannot be a bystander in Christ and expect to be effective for Christ. To God be in you gotta talk to him read his word be around his people be around those those who are his people, be a moving target. He says, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Think of it, the writer who is got this great relationship with Christ so great that he is allowed to append Scripture and he is saying it is for us how holy God can make room for unholy sin laden men.

Only God has the answer and it's right here. Look, people don't look thereof.

I'll beat you to it. Hebrews 725.

He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. What is all about.

He always lives to make intercession. This is what God has occupied himself with sinners who will come a W torture rights. This profound thing about the person of God in his work throne. He says we are quick to assert that when he walked the earth. He was God with men but we overlook a truth equally as important that where he sits now on his mediatorial throne. He is man with God when I left out this a bridge and he is without a bridge again across you can't get to the other side with a bridge.

You've made it. Here's that bridge. How far does his atonement goal. How far this is salvation go is a very easy answer far enough. That's all I need is the one that decides what enough is. And he has done it and I'm good with it. So is every born-again believer. Verse 25 was still building up to greater points. I hope not, that he should offer himself often as the high priest enters the most holy place every year with blood of another. Well Christ Jesus suffered crucifixion once it says once, not often is very clear he will say it again. Verse 28. In other verses 26 He Will See Will Dr. this point home only the sinister don't want it will get to that he will never again be the dead Christ of Calvary. Never again. He says I am alive forevermore.

Amen. That's what he says I am alive forevermore. Amen I am alive forevermore. It is true. That's what he says it's not what people think. It's what God says and what people think concerning God apart from God is got in the way of everything. The only thing that will set us free as truth is the truth of the word he says in verse 25. The high priest enters the most holy place every year with blood of another. In contrast to a holy God offering holy blood, his own. You cannot bring a clean thing out of a dirty thing. If you have a a dishrag and it is filthy you cannot clean anything with it. You can only contaminate other things with it the lab or at the temple spoke of that things must be cleansed and Christ is the one that is clean enough, he's not the dirty rag. That's why Isaiah made it very clear. One reason why all man's righteousness are like filthy rags can't clean the soul.

It takes God to do that and then a lot of folks strutting around as they sit telling people how good they are. Because of their deeds.

Why God has to accept them. They are blind, the only way they'll ever see is if the light can shine through with some Christian getting to them, not with hysteria but with truth so high priest enters the most holy place every year of their high priest, our high priest has done it for once and is referencing the day of atonement for the Jewish people. We've discussed this, I won't spend too much time on it, but once a year Yom Kippur bar. The priest, the high priest would go into the temple on behalf of the nation and he would go behind the second veil into the holy place and stand before Yahweh and make peace for the nation. The writer is saying to the Jews who understand that our Jesus does not have to do this once a year he done it once. That was enough.

It was that potent.

If you want to go back and still have your sins covered supposedly now once a year, you're making a grave mistake when you have a Christ that is done away with your sin.

Verse 26.

He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages he has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

So he's almost shouting out what part of the sacrifice on the cross. Do you not get to even think of this, God knew from creation that he would have to act in redemption. A new forever. God is not learn new things is got it all knew that he would have to suffer is Isaiah 53 told because he told Isaiah to write Isaiah 53 and everything else in that he would suffer wants now is starting to get towards our points. First Peter chapter 3 for Christ also suffered once for sins, but just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the spirit. An act of God. Jesus was no mere man Lamb of God to remove sin. What Judaism could not do cannot do is not doing what Christ is done he says here in verse 26. He is appear to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself took the cover man's sin, innocent animals had to die and even told you you were naked, consciousness, awareness of sin. Everything was broken. Now the animals were slain animals who did nothing but there was also going to be the son of God who did nothing wrong and was slain. So again, sin did not begin with Adam and Eve, though for the mystery of evil in the universe raised its ugly head. The dateless past in the universe.

Before sin and evil showed up in Satan, the Godhead father-son Holy Spirit. They were ready they were ready with the solution. It was not something that surprised them it was not sprung upon them. They were not ambushed they would bring evil in the universe to ahead. They were determined to do so, they will settle this once and for all of all the forms in the universe of all the orbs and out of space.

The battlefield was chosen by God to be planet Earth and that's where Satan was thrown to Jesus that I saw him falling lightning.

This is the battleground right here.

Like it or not, Calvary has finalized it for God the living have to go through phase 1 and make it true to phase 2, which is glory bunion John Bunyan writing his Pilgrim's progress is not Scripture but it is a man of Scripture whom God no question uses illustrating much of his own experiences. We have a Scripture that the sacred and not to be messed with, is entirely trustworthy, but God has allowed other things of his people to surface, even by his spirit, not on the level which Scripture was sort of to say to us. I know you see Paul you see Jeremiah, you see the Saints of Scripture and you get a feeling like they're just too far ahead of you to be like them.

So to help you with that a little bit. I'm going to also highlight some servants of mine below not Paul and Jeremiah still face the Dragon and made it through bunion is one of those men, those who have a testimony all through the ages. These are the men, the women that we admire, because the will of the work of the Holy Spirit is to God's glory, not theirs will bunion is writing his Pilgrim's progress. He's in prison for preaching the word is in prison for years and I going to the details of what he suffered during that time is great sorrow and grief but illustrates what's what. The Christian goes through from earth to heaven that Celeste Teal city and at one point he talks about Christian the character facing Apollyon. Satan.

Satan starts off by challenging the faith.

Christian talking about the sins that he is committed you've been listening to cross reference radio the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick asked Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

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